Does it always rain on Easter? Yes, it seems to and this year it is cold for South Texas. My cats were all sitting at the door and when I let them in I looked at my outside thermometer. It was 34 degrees F with a slow rain. We could almost get a little snow. How about a bit of freezing rain?

I thought quick, time to check my new one layer Polarguard Delta and Silk Sleeping Bag. I got out my MCA Cat Tarp and hung it on my deck. I am about to get out my Bivy and new sleeping bag and try it out.

I am wearing my Patagonia #2 wool hoody and bottoms. Patagonia silk weight glove liners and Double Wright Socks. With my start-off AT gear list I would have an Ex Officio long sleeve hiking shirt and convertible pants, an insulated vest, a second pair of socks, a Marmont Ion or something like it and VB socks. This then is what I have to play with to see if I can stay warm enough to make me happy. Note that I will not try and sleep if I am cold.

After about 30 minutes I decided that my lower body needed more pad under it for insulation. I was only using a 1/4" GG pad cut to fit inside my sleeping bag. I had another short piece of GG 3/8" pad and that did the trick. My upper body was now nice and warm but the tops of my legs are still a little cool. Not cold but not warm enough to make me happy. It was now about 38 degrees and a slight breeze and a little rain. I moved onto my side and got warmer. After about an hour I went back inside.

I think I have a way to add another layer of Polarguard Delta to my legs without adding any additional weight or at best only a very small amount of extra weight.

I'm thinking that from a bottom warmth point of view sleeping on a deck would be more like hammock sleeping than ground sleeping. Your ground might have been warmer than the air (I'm not sure though, it's been years since I was in TX in April).

How do I get out of this one. Maybe I really am in Japan. What I should have said was "weekend", I hope.

Wait till you see the Polarguard Delta Vest (sort of) that I am making. About 2.5 or so ounces. I expect only a little over 2 ounces and it should be finished tonight. All light silk and one layer of Polaguard Delta. It will replace a conventional weight vest at around 6 ounces. I decided the Cocoon Vest was not going to be ready before my first hike segment so this is its replacement.

I am working to stay within a specific weight range (SUL). My current for planning pack weigh today is about 51.30 ounces. I really don't have anything big that I can drop much weigh anymore. Now I am remaking a few things to shave a few grams here and there as I would like to get well below 48 ounces. I have created a few really weird things trying to drop a couple of ounces. My camera at 5.5 ounces was one of a few things I just can't do anything about. I will not leave my camera home.

Think "Rite in the Rain" notebook but using sheets and cover made out of scrap Cuben Fiber.

I am wearing out my old brain trying to find more ways to drop a few more ounce so I can get under 48 ounces for my pack weight. But at the same time I want to plan for possible low of 32 degrees through the month of May. I don't expect it to be very cold into May but will be prepared for 32 degrees just in case. This would be wearing everything I am carrying. Southern end of the AT starting at Springer Mt about 1 May if I don't get any more hike stoppers. I need to be back in San Antonio for several medical checkup on 26 June so I only have about 50 days to hike in this segment.

I might put my gear list up Sunday and see if anyone has any ideas where I might save a few more ounces.

===

Jim,

My Cuben Hammock is hanging in my backyard and I was in it also. Trying different pads to see what it takes for todays temperature. I use my pads inside my Hammock and cut them more or less to a canoe shape. My fall back in my Hammock is my Down Air Mattress. That will take me to below 20 degrees.

I agree that the ground should be warmer than my deck. It is 32 degrees and raining now.

> I might put my gear list up Sunday and see if anyone has any > ideas where I might save a few more ounces.

You're probably already working on this, but if the 2007 Marmot Ion is in your gear list then you might be able to save 1.5 to 2 oz by making your own. You mentioned elsewhere that the 2007 weighs 5.5 oz (size XL). For comparison my 2005 pertex quantum Ion weighs 3.5 oz (size L) . Mine has a #45c zipper, so a #3 zipper might drop the weight to 3.0 oz.

Question: Why use Polarguard Delta for the bag and vest?Climashield Combat is the same weight/yd and has a higher clo (0.79 versus 0.68). Am I missing something?

Thanks for the comments. I will post my gear list when things settle down a bit. With the pre-ordering of the new cocoon line frenzy started I expect all attention and traffic would bury a mere gear list in a hurry. Don't ask why I am up so early this morning. I am a basic "black color" kind of guy so I had to pass on most all of the new cocoon line.

I do plan to make a replacement for the the 2007 Ion. I will use Pertex Quantum for something like a jacket and a pair of pants. They will be a very simple design to keep the weight as low as possible and the sewing easy.

As to why Polarguard Delta - It has some very special qualities that are proven in use and while Climashield Combat is really good it is "not yet tested or proven" to have these same special qualities. I also believe that Polarguard Delta has those special qualities designed into it by chance or design. I don't know yet if Climashield Combat or XP has these same qualities designed into them. Those kind of answers are hard to get.

The weight of the 5 yard sample of Climashield Combat I had was 2.21 to 2.29 ounce per sq yard. The Polarguard Delta I am using is from 2.11 to 2.16 ounce per sq yard. The clo value between these two insulations are close enough that for me it is not a factor of pure numbers alone.

When you add Pertex Quantum and Polarguard Delta together in a product you get magic.

I want to see if by using very light silk with Polarguard Delta sandwiched between it to keep weight as low as possible, and then covering it with a Pertex Quantum jacket and pants or a Pertex Quantum top on a bivy I can get the same results but with a lighter total weight.